Batting

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The York College baseball squad concluded their stay at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a tough 8-7 loss to Eastern University on Thursday morning.

The Spartans and Eagles now both stand at 4-3 after the contest.

The Eagles jumped on York starter Josh Kohn (Derwood, Md./Col. Zadok Magruder) for a pair of runs in the first on a two-out, two-run single to left by centerfielder Tyler Orr.

The Spartans bounced back and tied the game with a pair of runs of their own in the top of the third. The rally was keyed by a two-run error by the Eagles that extended the inning for York.

The Spartans then got some clutch two-out hitting to explode for five runs in the top of the fourth. The Green and White was aided by two walks and three hit batters in the frame. Senior Justin Cohen (Severn, Md./Old Mill) had the big knock in the inning with a two-run double to right center.

The Eagles got back into the game in the bottom of the fifth. The uprising started after Kohn got a double play to start the inning. Eastern then got a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases. Third baseman Mark Royer stroked a two-run single to right to cut the Spartan lead to 7-4. Eastern tacked on a third run in the inning on a Kohn wild pitch.

After the five-run fourth, the Spartan offense went quiet as they managed just one hit over the final five innings of play.

While the Spartan offense was slumbering, the Eagles made just enough plays to tie the game with two more runs in the seventh. Devon Ziegenfuss had an RBI double and came around to score on an Eric Rossi RBI single.

Eastern plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back singles to open the inning. After a fielder's choice left Eagles at first and third, Spartan pitcher Andrew Tucci (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) walked the bases loaded with one out. Tucci then hit Ziegenfuss with the bases loaded to force in the winning run with one out. Tucci rebounded to get a double play grounder to keep the damage at one.

The Spartans couldn't get anything going in the ninth as they went in order, snapping their two-game win streak.

Ernie Stiegler earned the win in relief of starter Ryan Chenault. Stiegler tossed 4.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits with three strikeouts, two walks and two hit batters. Anthony Messina earned the save with a perfect ninth inning of action. The save is his second of the year.

Tucci suffered the loss as he allowed a run on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. He falls to 0-1 with the setback. Kohn started and went 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with four walks and three strikeouts. David Walker (Hanover, Pa./South Western) threw 2.1 innings as he allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.

The Eagles banged out 15 hits in the win. Greg DeSarro led Eastern with three hits while Orr was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Royer also had two hits and two RBI while Angelo Kelly and Dillon Schwartzer each contributed two knocks.

Andrew Hershey (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) paced York as he had three of the Spartans' six hits with an RBI and two runs scored. Cohen was 1-for-5 with two RBI.

The Spartans are slated to make their 2013 home debut on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the University of Scranton to Jaquet Field for a non-conference contest. First pitch is set for 1:30 pm.